Immortality begins with the ninjas of Konoha

Everyone in the room understood Danzo's meaning: after completing their work, the Root intelligence agents would only face death.

No one objected; with the five major powers infiltrating each other, sacrifices for the village were inevitable.

How did Hyuga Shuichi perform?

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't talk about intelligence work; Danzo was an expert in that area. He was more concerned about the Hyuga clan's attitude.

"Hyuga Shuichi contributed greatly to the fact that Shikaku's team was able to bring back intelligence this time."

"The integrated offensive and defensive 'Return to Heaven' is of great help in the battle."

Jiraiya reported truthfully, and upon hearing "Return to Heaven," the others in the room nodded in agreement. With this secret technique combined with the Byakugan, the Hyuga could truly be called the strongest clan in Konoha.

Whenever war breaks out, the Hyuga clan always sends its elites to contribute to the village. The people in the room don't care about their status; their attitude is more important.

"Next time we might face their Jinchūriki, Jiraiya, don't be careless!"

"Minato's Flying Thunder God technique must be further refined. That child's talent is beyond imagination; he is the future of the village."

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's cheerful praise, Danzo narrowed his eyes and spoke up to remind him:

"I don't want Minato Namikaze to have too close a relationship with the Jinchūriki, because it would bring huge risks to the village."

"That's Minato's freedom, and as his teacher, I have no right to interfere."

"That's enough, old man, I need to go have a drink."

Jiraiya responded with a few words of dissatisfaction, then turned and left without glancing at Danzo.

"boom..."

The door closed, and Danzo opened his eyes to look at the others. For a moment, no one spoke, until Koharu Utatane finally broke the silence:

"Lord Mito mentioned this matter. I support Danzo's position. We all know what the consequences would be if it got out of control."

"There's no need to discuss this. Kushina's chakra is very special. We just need to trust Lady Mito's arrangements."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, as always, believed in his "family." Homura Mitokado remained silent with his head bowed, while Danzo stood up abruptly and said in a deep voice:

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this."

"..."

Chapter 35 The Bird in the Cage (Please continue reading)

As July drew to a close and the weather grew hotter, a sense of melancholy welled up in Hyuga Shuichi's heart in the Hyuga clan's territory.

"Wow, Shuichi! As expected of a secret technique, the clan leader and the Hokage have been praising your performance lately."

"I want to be as outstanding as Shuichi!"

"You still have a chance to learn Baguazhang. Keep up the good work, Xiuyi."

"Shuichi, you are our pride..."

In the branch family, everyone would loudly praise Hyuga Shuichi when they met him, and they would proudly puff out their chests when mentioning the secret techniques bestowed upon them by the main family.

Hyuga Shuichi outwardly wore a humble smile, but once out of sight of his clansmen, he subconsciously clenched his fists, his surging emotions almost activating his Byakugan.

"Shuichi, don't let anyone else see you like this."

Hinata Hizashi, who had just opened the door, called out to remind Hyuga Shuichi. After taking a deep breath, Hyuga Shuichi stepped into the room and sat down. Neither of them spoke.

Even those with exceptional talent cannot learn the secret techniques of the Hyuga clan after branching out.

Most of the family members who separated from the main branch did not object to this, but a small number of them felt humiliated, feeling inferior despite sharing the same blood and eyes.

How did you feel about this mission?

Hyuga Hizashi looked at the boy in front of him who had his head down. The latter slowly raised his head and then said in an envious tone:

"Whether it's Shu or Kakashi, their talents are exceptional."

“They are free to learn everything, while I can only submit to the corrupt family system. This ‘gift’ from the main family is more like charity.”

Giving a useful "tool" to the village to show one's stance is how Hyuga Shuichi felt after learning "Reversal of Fortune".

Hyuga Hizashi did not immediately offer his opinion, but instead calmly continued to inquire:

Does Osamu Furukawa pay attention to the Hyuga clan?

"I can't be sure of his attitude. Xiu gives me an indescribable feeling that his talent may far exceed the village's imagination."

Hyuga Shuichi responded softly, recalling the time they had spent together, and he couldn't help but think of the words "live on."

"I shouldn't have pinned my hopes on the next Hokage."

"Perhaps this is the fate of the divided family, Shuichi. Don't show your emotions in front of the main family."

"That's just how the world is; there are always things we can't change. Just live with hope."

Hyuga Hizashi encouraged him in a low voice, not wanting to "make empty promises," as he, as a member of a branch family, could not change anything.

Seemingly having anticipated this outcome, Hyuga Shuichi nodded slightly in response, then, reflecting on the role of ordinary ninjas in war, he muttered to himself with a self-deprecating smile:

"Thank you, Lord Hizashi. At least I am still a valuable tool."

-

As night falls, the commercial street is bustling with activity under the colorful lights, and several new izakayas have recently opened in the village.

"ha..."

Tsunade, who had raised her glass for a hearty drink, let out a low exclamation, then immediately slammed the glass onto the table, causing her round, white breasts, exposed beneath her sleeveless top, to bounce a few times.

"A few more! These refreshing beers are perfect for this hot weather!"

Shizune was a little worried when she saw her teacher looking dazed, but Furukawa Osamu was already used to it. With Tsunade's ability to control chakra, it was very easy for him not to get drunk.

He poured Tsunade a cup, then raised his oolong tea to hers, clinked glasses, and asked with a smile:

"Teacher, apart from the Hyuga clan, how do ordinary ninjas release chakra from the pressure points all over their bodies?"

Normally, Tsunade wouldn't answer at all, she'd just flick her forehead and say something like "laying the foundation." But after drinking too much, the situation was completely different. She squinted and answered:

"These profound questions again!"

"Controlling all the pressure points in the body to release chakra? No one except the Hyuga clan can do that."

"You saw the Reversal of Heaven? Even with this profound technique, the effects vary depending on the person using it."

"The ability to reliably and quickly extract chakra from the meridians and release it from the acupoints is something that very few people in the Hyuga clan can fully master."

"Unlike the kekkei genkai of Iwagakure, the kekkei genkai of the Hyuga clan is not something that is developed; it is an innate talent."

"..."

Furukawa Osamu nodded thoughtfully, then smiled and continued pouring the wine while calling to Shizune:

"The fried food at this shop is pretty good!"

Seeing that Tsunade was indeed awake, Shizune felt relieved. The girl ate the freshly served tempura and quickly praised it happily:

"Xiu, it's really delicious!"

"But I still like your cooking. Tsunade-sensei has complained about it a few times recently..."

"Pour wine!"

Tsunade interrupted the girl's rambling. She had indeed become somewhat dependent due to her comfortable life, but as a teacher, she couldn't show that side of herself.

Furukawa Osamu smiled and continued to refill Tsunade's bowl, while also telling the shopkeeper to bring out a new batch of side dishes. This mission was ultimately upgraded to S-rank by Jiraiya, so he made a small profit.

No longer asking about ninjutsu, Furukawa Osamu simply shared some interesting anecdotes from the mission, and Shizune quickly smiled, with Tsunade joining in the banter and teasing.

She drank until late at night, and Tsunade, her face flushed, left satisfied as the shopkeeper saw her off. Standing at the shop entrance, she squinted and asked:

"Xiu, are you comfortable using the short sword?"

"The conduction and storage effects are excellent. I was able to return safely thanks to Tsunade-sensei's gift."

Furukawa Osamu offered a respectful compliment, and Tsunade, no longer inquiring about mission details, bent down, flicked her forehead, and whispered a word of advice:

"I don't want to see you at the memorial tablet in a few years. Don't relax, complete the Hundred Seals as soon as possible."

"Teacher, isn't the development of this technique still incomplete?"

"You little brat, you're not cute at all..."

-

In early August, Furukawa Osamu, who was on holiday, continued to gather Sage Chakra at home as usual. The number of "essence" medicines increased, and the progress accelerated.

The slug on his shoulder remained motionless until the seated Furukawa Osamu finished all the refining, then praised him in a cheerful tone:

"Lord Xiu, the progress of obtaining the Hundred Healings Seal has increased again!"

"Once this technique is completed, I will be able to assist Master Xiu in entering Sage Mode, making the subsequent extraction of Sage Chakra much easier."

Furukawa Osamu simply nodded, then asked in a low voice:

"Live Slug, you said before that Hagoromo Otsutsuki and Hamura Otsutsuki inherited different powers, and that the initial chakra had a greater impact on the Sage of Six Paths?"

"Yes! The power of the Sage of Six Paths has been passed down to this day, and the influence of his chakra manifests every few years."

The slug wriggled its tentacles and crawled onto his knee. After thinking for a moment, Furukawa Osamu suddenly asked again:

"Can you sense the chakra passed down from Indra and Asura?"

"Yes, Master Xiu, but the other party needs to awaken that power."

Furukawa Osamu didn't know what these two streams of chakra were, but he knew that they must exist within the Uchiha "Dancing King".

The Byakugan might not be obtainable through gathering, and Furukawa Osamu didn't want to get too close to the Hyuga clan, but he was determined to obtain those two streams of chakra.

"We might have to trouble the live slug in the future!"

"No problem, Master Xiu, I look forward to your path of evolution."

"..."

Chapter 36 "Tools" and "Naruto"... (Part 1)

In mid-August of Konoha Year 46, the recently graduated students faced the Chunin Exams.

As usual, the captain is responsible for nominations, and those with outstanding ninja talent are automatically promoted by the higher-ups.

For ninjas from ordinary families, everyone felt that being able to participate in the exams early was a good thing!

The rewards for D-rank missions are too low. After deducting the captain's share, most genin (low-ranking ninjas) can't even afford to upgrade their ninja tools and equipment.

Therefore, the news caused a stir among the students, with those graduating early this year raising their hands in welcome.

Might Guy was nominated for captain, which made him happy but also a little depressed. The village selection process emphasized team competition, and his two teammates couldn't keep up with him.

In Training Ground 44, inside the Death Forest, Might Guy, who had brought his teammates for special training, looked speechlessly at the two who had already collapsed on the ground.

"Kai, we just graduated not long ago, there's no need to work so hard!"

Ebisu, who was hit by "Earth Release: Heart Decapitation Technique", muttered to himself. He hadn't expected to be promoted to Chunin so early and had a clear understanding of his own strength.

On the other side, Genma Shiranui, tied to a large tree, also had a deadpan expression. He acted even more foolishly, actually getting trapped in the trap:

"It's hopeless, Guy! The team lacks sensory-type ninjas; this kind of duel is just too difficult..."

"You two idiots, don't give up until the very last moment!"

Not far away, Might Guy, wearing a headband and a green bodysuit, glared and complained, twitching his ears, then sniffing and muttering impatiently:

"Where is it?!"

On the giant tree directly in front of Might Guy, using the dense foliage as cover, Furukawa Osamu hung upside down beside the branch. Seeing that Guy below had lost patience and was yelling, he cut the thin steel wire.

"call out!"

The trap was set up again, and kunai and shuriken flew straight down at Might Guy.

Faced with the sudden attack, Matt Kai instantly drew two nunchucks, making a series of clanging sounds to block the attack, and then suddenly accelerated, rushing straight towards the giant tree at the top.

Fire Release: Flame Bullet!

Furukawa Osamu released his ninjutsu at the perfect moment. Might Guy, who was in mid-air, twisted his body to dodge the fireball and fell onto a thick tree branch, half of his body blackened.

Might Guy, who was about to unleash his chakra while trying to continue the pursuit, was rushed in front of him in the blink of an eye by Kakashi, who had been preparing for a long time.